Praise and Thanksgiving

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! We are blessed beyond belief! During my time with the Lord, I found this prayer that most accurately communicates my heart of thanksgiving today. It is a puritan prayer from the book The Valley of Vision.

O MY GOD,

Thou fairest, greatest, first of all objects,

my heart admires, adores, loves thee,

for my little vessel is as full as it can be,

and I would pour out all that fullness before thee in ceaseless flow.

When I think upon and converse with thee

ten thousand delightful thoughts spring up,

ten thousand sources of pleasure are unsealed,

ten thousand refreshing joys spread over my heart,

crowding into every moment of happiness.

I bless thee for the soul thou hast created,

for adorning it, sanctifying it,

though it is fixed in barren soil;

for the body thou hast given me,

for preserving its strength and vigour,

for providing senses to enjoy delights,

for the ease and freedom of my limbs,

for hands, eyes, ears that do thy bidding;

for thy royal bounty providing my daily support,

for a full table and overflowing cup,

for appetite, taste, sweetness,

for social joys of relatives and friends,

for ability to serve others,

for a heart that feels sorrows and necessities,

for a mind to care for my fellow-men,

for opportunities of spreading happiness around,

for loved ones in the joys of heaven,

for my own expectation of seeing thee clearly.

I love thee above the powers of language to express,

for what thou art to thy creatures.

Increase my love, O my God, through time and eternity.

I haven't done well with recording each day my thanks. However, not a day has gone by that I have not asked the Lord to reveal to me something that I am thankful for. He has given Andrew and I more than we could ever ask for. When this prayer says "for my little vessel is as full as it can be" I deeply resonate and cry out these words within my own heart before God. I pray that today we are reminded of how richly God deserves our thanks and I pray that the days ahead are ones of thanks as well. May we turn from our selfish pride and embrace the grace we have been given freely. May God truly increase our love for Him. Happy Thanksgiving friends and family! From the bottom of our hearts, we love you and are thankful for you!